United Kingdom
Coven II is a underground drum and bass club in just outside Oxford's city center. It used to be a gay club until it closed at the end of the 80s. It was then refurbished and reopened as Coven II in the late 90s and has since been the best D&B club in the south of England. Not only is the building perfect; a ground floor and basement with balconies around the basement from the first floor, a pedestal for DJs raised around 15 feet off the floor, an eight foot sub-woofer located on the dancefloor and seating ares located in small caves in the wall. Recent huge acts to play there include Shy FX, Skepta, Mampi swift, Pendulum, Baraka, Skinny Man, as well as local MCs such as MC Choppa, MC Addict and MC TYG.
As well as a weekend saturday night Kinetic night, there is also a weekly gay night which has even attracted interest from MTV, and a Thursday student night with a different theme each week, including foam parties (with foam often reaching as high as the roof of the basement) snow parties, water fights (with over 2000 water guns provided) and fancy dress nights. There is also a thriving bar, as well as the main dance floor and smaller dance floor, and also an outside smoking area with heater lights and perfectly comfy seating. As well as being within five minutes of the city center and the Oxford train station, it is also just around the corner from a taxi rank. It can also be booked out for private parties regularly and the staff are all extremely outgoing and friendly, and will often get involved with the fun. That is why I recommend Coven II as one of the best nights out in the whole of the country.
Oxpens road, Oxford.
Get up early enough on 1 May and you're in for a riot of English tradition at its best. Revellers from the previous night's balls join city folk, morris dancers and tourists to listen to the eerie Hymnus Eucharisticus that echoes from the choirboys who ascend Magdalen Tower for the occasion. Meanwhile, the drunker and more foolhardy of the students (often dressed in black tie) leap from Magdalen bridge into the murky waters of the river Cherwell below.
Outside Magdalen college tower, High Street near the Plain roundabout.
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